Figure 3.

Positive selection and the further maturation of both CD4 and CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes are impaired in miR-146a transgenic mice. The frequency and absolute count of each thymocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). (A–C) Thymocytes were classified into three stages [double negative (DN), double positive (DP), or CD4/8 SP] based on the expression of the surface markers CD4 and CD8. Frequency (B) and absolute count (C) of thymocyte at each stage were analyzed by FCM. (D–F) Frequency (E) and absolute count (F) of positively selected (TCRβ^high) CD4 and CD8 SP thymocytes were analyzed by FCM. (G–J) Frequency (H) and absolute count (I) of thymocytes undergoing positive selection, which is indicated as a transition from CD69⁺TCRβ^int to CD69⁺TCRβ^high were analyzed by FCM. The ratios of CD69⁺TCRβ^high (after selection) to CD69⁺TCRβ^int (before selection) were calculated (J). (K–M) Maturation of selected CD4 and CD8 SP thymocytes were analyzed by FCM. Frequency (L) and absolute count (M) of thymocytes with a mature phenotype (CD69⁻CD62L^high) were recorded. Each dot represents one mouse, and the values represent the mean ± SD. Statistical significance is indicated as follows: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 (Holm–Sidak method).